The third of four daughters born in Los Angeles on the 29th of January 1924, to Besse and Charles Friedenthal, Sybil was predeceased by her parents; her husband of 40 years, Henry Kahn Roos; her sisters Jane (Steve) Brewster, Betty (Harold) Levy and Carolyn (Harold) Murov; and Henry’s brothers Armand (Corinne) Roos and Floyd (Beverly) Roos.
She is survived by three daughters, Cathey Cook (Michael, deceased), Betsy Garlinger (Jack, deceased) and Ginger Bertrand (Byron, deceased); grandchildren Aimee Bertrand (husband Colin Butler), Rebecca (Bill) Adler, Kevin (Jennifer) Cook and Thomas (Katie) Cook; and 13 great grandchildren. Her family called her “Dibby” because her nieces and nephews could not pronounce “Sybil.”
Sybil graduated from Beverly Hills High School, where she composed music for the school plays; Centenary College (B.A. in music with an emphasis on piano and composition); and Northwestern State University of Louisiana (M.Ed. in elementary and special education). During WWII, Sybil was a proud member of the WAVES (the women’s branch of the Navy) and performed for British War Relief Society and American Red Cross audiences.
In Louisiana, Sybil taught students with learning difficulties, served on the Council for Exceptional Children, was a Special Olympics area coordinator and belonged to the Caddo Parish Teachers Association and the Louisiana Teachers Association.
Upon moving to Houston with Henry in 1975, Sybil was dedicated to community service throughout the city as a patron of the arts, a strong supporter of education and an advocate for children’s causes. She was a Spring Branch ISD first grade teacher and Spring Branch Elementary’s Teacher of the Year and belonged to the Spring Branch Educators Association, the Texas State Teachers Association, the National Teachers Association and the Greater Houston Area Reading Council.
Sybil was a dedicated member of Spring Valley University Women, Spring Branch Retired Teachers Association and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was honored with life memberships in the Louisiana and Texas PTAs and the Shreveport Girl Scouts.
As president of the Houston Grand Opera Guild, Sybil wrote teachers’ guides for student presentations. She was a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, was nominated for their Outstanding Alumnae Achievement Award and supported Houston Alumnae Panhellenic Association.
Sybil was a season ticketholder to the Houston Grand Opera, Broadway Across America, Theatre Under the Stars and the Houston Astros. She was a lifetime member of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Sybil sponsored the Houston Symphony’s principal trumpeter, Mark Hughes, for many years.
Among the many philanthropic organizations she supported were the American Association of University Women - Spring Valley Chapter, Camp For All, City ArtWorks, Easter Seals Greater Houston, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Junior Woman’s Club, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Symphony, Houston Zoo, Methodist Hospital, Mission of Yahweh, Mothers Against Cancer Kingwood, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, University of Houston Moores School of Music, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, Virtuosi of Houston and The Woman’s Club of Houston.
The first grand piano for the University of Houston Moores School of Music was purchased by Sybil; she helped select the Houston Symphony’s Steinway piano at the factory in New York City; and funded the music room for the Mission of Yahweh.
Among her countless travels, the most memorable included the dedication of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington Cemetery and the 65th anniversary of D-Day at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France.
Sybil was a member of Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism.
Special thanks go to Sybil’s many friends, her physicians at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and Baylor Geriatrics and the caring team at Houston Hospice.
A private graveside service was held on Friday, the 12th of January 2024, at Congregation Beth Israel Memorial Garden, where Rabbi Steven M. Gross of Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism, officiated.
In lieu of customary remembrances and should you so desire, memorial contributions in Sybil’s honor may be directed to one of Sybil’s beloved charities.
